A pilot study of megestrol acetate and ibuprofen in the treatment of cachexia in gastrointestinal cancer patients

D C McMillan; P O'Gorman; K C Fearon; C S McArdle

doi:10.1038/bjc.1997.463

A pilot study of megestrol acetate and ibuprofen in the treatment of cachexia in gastrointestinal cancer patients

Br J Cancer. 1997;76(6):788-90. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1997.463.

Authors

D C McMillan¹, P O'Gorman, K C Fearon, C S McArdle

Affiliation

¹ University Department of Surgery, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.

Abstract

Advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients with weight loss and an acute-phase response (n = 15) were given megestrol acetate (480 mg day(-1)) and ibuprofen (1200 mg day(-1)) for 6 weeks. Overall, there was an increase in body weight (P = 0.01) and a reduction in C-reactive protein concentrations (P = 0.02), with no change in total body water (P = 0.24) over this period. This regimen may be an effective non-toxic treatment for cancer cachexia and is worthy of further study.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use*
Appetite Stimulants / therapeutic use*
Body Water / drug effects
Body Weight / drug effects
C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
Cachexia / drug therapy*
Female
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
Humans
Ibuprofen / therapeutic use*
Male
Megestrol Acetate / therapeutic use*
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Appetite Stimulants
C-Reactive Protein
Megestrol Acetate
Ibuprofen